Nearly all Americans snack, especially younger adult consumers who also are more likely to have increased their snacking frequency over the last year. Snacking may also be replacing standard daily meals, and this behavior is likely to continue. Americans claim a preference toward healthier snacks, specifically those with simple ingredients and low calorie counts; however, they most often snack to satisfy a craving, highlighting the important role taste and flavor play on their snacking behavior. There still is opportunity for manufacturers to offer more conveniently packaged and healthy snacks, which consumers feel are missing from the market.

This report is the first of its kind from Mintel but builds on the analysis presented in The Snacking Occasion—US, February 2014.

Mintel provides a comprehensive analysis of the following factors that have the greatest potential to impact the snacking category:

• How snacking is defined, especially as its definition has broadened and new food and beverage categories continue to enter this space.

• Snacking frequency and the main drivers or motivations for snacking occasions, including functional and emotional reasons.

• The most important features consumers consider when buying snacks related to health, brand, packaging, and flavor.

• How consumers’ snacking choices differ by occasion, and how snacks fit into consumers’ lifestyles.

• The snacking retail landscape including other retail channel entry (eg snacking subscription services, non-food retailers).

• How health, convenience, and eating habits impact consumer attitudes toward snacking.